Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The New York Yankees have been very quiet during free agency. They've signed no marquee players or made any blockbuster trades. News of the Philadelphia Phillies signing Cliff Lee was a big surprise to a lot. Including the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees.

The Yankees money couldn't get him to the Big Apple. They practically offered him the world (money and 7 years)and he went back to Philly. The only player the Yankees could get was L.A. Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. Big deal huh?

I guess Lee really never wanted to leave Philadelphia and now he gets to go back and possibly make another World Series trip. Meanwhile the Yankees have C.C. Sabathia and not much else behind him in the rotation. It's hard to feel sorry for them not getting their man, but personally I love it. I'm glad their money can't buy everyone. Now they might fall back to the pack a little. I wish I could say the same about the Red Sox, so we won't have to watch those "epic" Yankees/Red Sox matchups every time a national game comes on.

Happy times in Clipperland. The worse owner ever in professional sports Donald Sterling has taken to heckling and belittling his own players. Sterling is the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Why Sterling is doing that to his own players, only he knows and he's not saying anything. His main target has been big money point guard, Baron Davis. He's also thrown darts at center Chris Kaman. Kaman, who is sidelined right now, has found it amusing.

"All kinds of stuff," Kaman said. "Some stuff like, 'Oh, dunk the ball.' He owns the team. What do you want me to say? He's my boss. He signs the check. He owns me."Not really, but you know what I'm saying. My rights to my basketball skills for five years."

Sterling would prefer not to pay Davis and has been reported as saying "he wants his money back." A league source says he wants to do it, but obviously can't do it.

Some within the organization aren't too thrilled. You can count me as an outsider who isn't either. Especially since this is a classic moment of the pot calling the kettle black.

Sterling has been known to be one of the cheapest owners in the NBA. Only a few years ago did he start trying to improve the product on the court. They never win and he won't sell the team. The Clippers are nothing more to him than something to improve his social standing. That way he can tell his high falutin buddies, "hey, I own an NBA team". Hell, former general manager Elgin Baylor took the brunt of the heat that should've been directed toward Sterling. Another thing, it's not like he's some kind of basketball savant.
He's probably never played, or even picked up a basketball. He probably didn't even know what one looked like until he owned the Clippers. Davis could probaly kick his ass in a game of 21with a peg leg and wooden arm.